China committed to maintaining peace on Korean Peninsula

Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi says China is committed to maintaining peace and stability and advancing the denuclearization process on the Korean Peninsula.

He made the remarks when meeting with US Secretary of State John Kerry in Beijing amid the high tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

Yang Jiechi reiterated the stance of the Chinese government on the Korean Peninsula is "consistent and clear."

He said China advocates addressing and settling the problem through dialogue and consultation and by means of peace.

Yang Jiechi stressed that it is in the common interests of all relevant sides to properly handle the Korean nuclear issue.

"China will work with other relevant parties, including the United States, to play a constructive role in promoting the six-party talks and to advance the implementation of the goals set out in the 19 September joint statement of 2005."

In that statement of 2005, North Korea agreed in principle to scrap its nuclear program in return for aid and diplomatic incentives from other members of the six-party talks, which involved China, Russia, the US, Japan and the two Koreas.

But Pyongyang withdrew from the talks in 2009 and later conducted more nuclear tests.

US Secretary of State John Kerry suggests China and the US work together to build a denuclearized Korean peninsula.

"China and the United States today recommitted ourselves to find a peaceful solution. And we say to Kim Jong Un and the government of Korea of the DPRK that they have an obvious choice here which is to join us in an effort to try to find a negotiated resolution."

North Korea recently warned it has weapons on standby and aimed at its foes if provoked.

Officials in Seoul and Washington say Pyongyang also appear to be preparing to test-fire a medium-range missile designed to be capable of reaching the US territory of Guam.